Herschell Carrousel Museum: A Step Back in Time in Upstate NY

On our recent trip to Niagara Falls (our first time back in over 10 years!), Mike surprised me with a stop at an antique carousel museum in nearby North Tonawanda. We love checking out quirky and historical roadside attractions no matter where we travel, so we had to check this place out while we were in such close proximity.

I love old carousels – a few years ago, I took a ride on the oldest looff stander at a small park near Providence, Rhode Island called Slater Memorial. This carousel is one of only 6 of its’ kind remaining. In 1996, a band organ built by the North Tonawanda Musical Instrument Works added to enhance the ambiance. The beautiful carousel music really provides the ultimate sensory experience. Since then, we have been checking out remaining carousels whenever we travel.

A museum dedicated to carousels in Upstate NY

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum was an easy stop on our route from Cleveland to Buffalo. We figured we might as well check it out while we had the opportunity. Being a fan of old school amusement parks and history, I was impressed.

I learned a lot of new things and loved browsing the exhibits, speaking with the knowledgeable staff, and taking a whimsical ride. This was one of our more fun road stops in recent years. I’ve found that these oddball stops are always the most memorable.

During our visit, we learned that the city of North Tonawanda produced more hand carved carousels than anywhere else. Today, you can explore the factory museum and even take a ride on one of the state’s oldest carousels. In 1985, the factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places. If you are a history buff visiting the Niagara region, I definitely recommend a stop here (it’s just 20 minutes away).

On an interesting side note, we learned that New York is home to more carousels than any other state. The museum has a full directory of all those you can still visit today. Really, if I had more time, it would be fun to take a roadtrip and check out all those still left standing.

The Allan Herschell Company

I didn’t really know much going in, but there was some handy historical info available and we took some time exploring as we had a bit of time before our hotel room opened.

In 1872, the Armitage Herschell Company formed, with a focus on iron products and then hand carved wooden carousels in 1883. Allan formed the Allan Herschell Company in 1915, specializing in carousels to be used by traveling carnivals.

Over 3000 hand carved carousels were produced, only 148 which remain today. 71 of these remaining antiques were manufactured in North Tonawanda in the 4 Herschell companies: The Armitage-Herschell Company, the Herschell-Spillman Company, the Spillman Engineering Company, and the Allan Herschell Company.

The museum’s origins

In 1979, a committee of 10 people including Rae Proefrock and Doug Bathke (and later Allan Herschell) came up with the idea to restore the old factory and place a carousel in it. After much fundraising and volunteer efforts, a beautiful carousel from the early 1900’s was brought to the museum. They sold tickets to the public for $2 to ride the carousel (once it arrived) and raised over $10,000.

Talented artist painted the horses and woodworkers put together the carousel. The factory was cleaned up by a team of volunteers. In 1982, it opened to the public in the city’s first Canal Fest. Over the years, the combined efforts of both volunteers and paid employees, as well as public grants have allowed for a complete restoration. Throughout the years, many informative exhibits have been added. Today, it holds much historical value; it is treasure for the community, history buffs, and anyone nostalgic for a time long gone.

You can read the entire history of the museums’ beginnings if you are interested in learning more. Your best bet is to visit the museum where you can learn via interactive & informative exhibits, as well as through personal stories shared by the staff.

1916 Number One Special Carrousel

The highlight of a visit here is taking a ride on a gorgeous antique carousel from 1916. This beauty is one of the first 3 produced at this factory. It’s such a unique experience to ride this carousel in the original factory building: a step back in time even if you didn’t live during the period when they were produced.

This carousel has 36 jumping horses, 1 spinning and 1 stationary chariot. It has 588 light bulbs and weights just more than 8 tons. It’s crazy to think that you could purchase it for just 5000 bucks back then – I wonder how much it would cost today?

The hand carved horses are so beautiful and the and band organ music is wonderful as well. The combination of lights, sound, and the beautiful artistry of the horses all comes together wonderfully. I loved walking around and taking in the ornate detailing on each horse.

The craftsmanship is amazing compared to modern merry go rounds. We learned that each was hand carved by talented immigrants with skills in woodworking. You will notice that some horses have tails. We learned that these smaller horses are older.

We learned a lot of interesting facts talking to a nice volunteer working the ride. She has lived in the area since the museum opened and it was interesting listening to her stories. Her passion was evident which is nice to see today. Honestly, talking to her was the best part about our visit. And thank you so much for the extra rides!

The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, so ask them anything you like. For any history buffs, I recommend reading more about the construction via the photo tour.

On a side note, rides are limited to those weighing under 200 pounds due to the fragile nature of the horses. Guests up to 250 lbs can opt to sit in the spinning chair seat aka “the lover’s tub.”

The Factory

The city of North Tonawanda was a hub for musical instruments, carousels, and amusement ride production. It’s home to 3 major companies: The Wurlitzer, the North Towanda Musical Instrument Works, and the Niagara Musical Instrument Works. The city had a winning combination of talented engineers and artisans, cheap raw materials, and access to the Erie Canal and railroads for easy transportation.

You will be able to take a self guided walk around the carving floor and painting dock. There is info about how the horses are constructed and painted and also some exhibits detailing the tech mechanisms involved. Audio tours available.

I love the section of the museum where you can look at old carousel horses and other animals (menagerie).

Menagerie carousel animals are basically any non horse. Over 35 were produced in North Tonawanda according to the museum. The super rare ostrich next to the zebra in this pic is a real gem – only 10 remain. On an interesting side note, the zebras had no saddle because there were considered to be wild. That being said, there was a saddle painted on them to make the public more comfortable.

Wurlitzer Music Roll Department

The Wurlitzer is the most recognizable of the band organ manufacturers. At the time, it was easy to order a band organ at the same time as ordering a carousel. This section of the museum demonstrates paper music rolls; band organs which are 90+ years old use these rolls to produce the carousel music.

You can watch these machines at work during your visit. You will be able to see 1600 hand-punched original master music rolls from the early 20th century. Note that this is the only place where you can see this type of display according to the museum.

Kiddieland

You can also view some exhibits detailing the history of Kiddeland. These amusement parks catered towards younger children. The Allan Herschell Company expanded into amusement rides in the 1930’s, producing both kid and adult rides. You can see parts of the Little Dipper coaster, 3 versions of early bumper cars, and kiddie auto rides.

Interestingly, I learned that one of the first kiddielands was Kiddieland located in Melrose Park, Illinois. This amusement park operated from 1929-2009. Being a Chicago native, I visited this park many times as a kid. I never really knew the history until researching it for this post and visiting this museum. Strangely enough, one of my favorite rides as a kid was the Little Dipper coaster!

During the summer months (on weekends only), kids can enjoy rides on a kiddie carousel, boats, and kiddie cars.

There is a kid’s size carousel which you can use your tokens towards, priced at 1 token per ride the same as the adult version.

Location, hours, and pricing Info

• Address: The museum is located at: 180 Thompson St. in North Tonawanda, New York.
• Hours: Wed-Sat from 10am – 4pm, Sundays Noon – 4pm.
• Pricing: Adults are $12, Seniors & students are $9, Kids are $6. Each ticket holder receives 2 ride tokens.
• Accessibility: Sensory backpacks, silent rides with no band playing, and handicap parking are available. See museum website for more details
• Other amenities: a gift shop, woodcarving classes (a special fee and reservation required), and various special holiday events throughout the year (see website for more details)

To learn more about the museum and see the special events lineup, please visit the factory museum website.

The historic Wurlitzer Building

The nice staff member we spoke to told us about the old Wurlitzer factory building which is now home to a chocolate factory called Platter’s. It’s located in the same town as the museum, so an easy add on if you have the time. She recommended us to check it out before leaving town and I am glad that we did.

You can take a peek at the factory through big open windows, enjoy a sweet treat in the cafe, and order all sorts of delicious truffles and gift boxes. They sell lots of sports (Buffalo Bills) and holiday (Halloween during our visit) gift sets. They carry so many wonderful specialty packages which you can pick up for holiday events, football game viewing parties, and gifts.

We tried a few truffles which were totally delicious. Just seeing all the beautiful gift sets, I was tempted to stock up on future birthday and Christmas presents. I would love to come back to try one of their fall treats. On the fall lineup, we saw: pumpkin spice custard, a warm apple pie sundae, an apple cider float, and a pumpkin spice latte.

The seating area is huge and attractively designed with fireplaces and cute country inspired decor. I recommend taking a break an enjoying a cup of coffee or one of their seasonal specials. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Niagara.

What else to do in the vicinity?

Cave of the Winds: This is an awesome tour where you walk on a wooden boardwalk (named Hurricane Deck for the insane windy conditions) for an upclose viewpoint of Bridal Veil Falls. It’s one of my favorite attractions at Niagara. Even with the complementary poncho, you will get totally soaked which makes this a must-do during the hot, humid summer months. Read more about my experience for the full details.

Maid of the Mist: Mike and I finally took this iconic, long running boat ride that we did not have enough time for on our last few visits. I am so glad we did because the views are nothing short of spectacular. For just over 30 bucks, you get to enjoy the best views possible of all 3 falls.

Glen Falls: This is a beautiful, small waterfall located in a quaint park in Williamsville. There are some small nature trails with access to Amherst State Park if you want to hike a bit more. We just loved strolling around in a low-key setting after battling through the crowds at Niagara.

Zoe Restaurant: This was a wonderful local Greek find on our trip. I love this type of food and this restaurant did not disappoint. The spanakopita and Greek salad were both excellent, and we also really enjoyed the hummus appetizer. The vibe is very lively and we loved the dining room decor. A perfect place for a date! Located in East Amherst.